Leandro Paredes has been handed a ten-match suspension by FIFA for the role he played in the on-pitch scuffle following Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.
Last month, the governing body revealed it had opened disciplinary proceedings against Paredes, the Argentinian Football Association (AFA), two other Argentinian players, and coaching staff member Roberto Ayala in relation to the incidents at New York New Jersey Stadium.
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Paredes was charged with three counts, and Nahuel Molina was charged with two counts, while Almada and Ayala were charged with one count each.
In addition to his ten-match ban, Paredes has been fined $90,000, as revealed in a statement published on Friday on FIFA’s official website.
Molina received a seven-match suspension and was fined the same amount as Paredes. Almada and Ayala were fined $30,000 each but were given one-match and three-match suspensions, respectively.
FIFA said the match suspensions are to be carried over to the next matches of the relevant representative teams.
Paredes was lucky not to see red during the July 19 final match, as he got away with multiple fouls. He went on to court further controversy after the final whistle as he was involved in a violent fight with Spanish players.
Argentina midfielder Molina was seemingly the chief instigator of the fracas as he appeared to throw a punch into the stomach of Rodri as the former Manchester City man ran across the pitch to join his teammates in the celebrations.
Things escalated, and Paredes got involved and grabbed Eric Garcia by the throat before shoving him to the ground.
The Boca Juniors midfielder did not end there as he subsequently pushed Gavi in the face and wrestled him to the ground. Initial reports claimed Paredes was shown a red card for his violent conduct, but subsequent reports revealed that he was not sent off.
FIFA sanction Argentina for breach of regulations at 2026 World Cup
In addition to its players, FIFA hit the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) with fines amounting to $321,000 for breach of regulations. FIFA said the sanction centers around using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature, including discrimination and racial abuse.
Following their 2-1 semi-final win over England, some Argentina players unfurled a white banner that read, “Las Malvinas Son Argentina,” which in English translates to “The Falklands belong to Argentina.”
FIFA rules prohibit the display of political messages by players or teams. In addition to the fines, FIFA ordered the AFA to play its next two home matches with a limited number of spectators.
Edited by Ezekiel Olamide
